In reality Black Piranha wasn’t much of a hope leading into today’s Doomben 10,000 when the final fields were released a couple of weeks ago.

Even after Black Caviar withdrew last week there was next to no chance that he was going to be able to make up enough ground on Hay List in the home straight.

With him now gone too Black Piranha has charged right into contention, not just because two superstars are gone but because the makeup of the race has now changed dramatically.

 Earlier in the week it was debatable if a horse could or would take on Hay List early to try and take the lead.

If they hadn’t it would virtually be game over for any of the get back horses as Hay List won by five.

Buffering is now very likely to have a crack at setting the pace when he comes across from barrier eight.

On the fence he’ll meet Border Rebel which from gate one will probably now be able to dictate the race and there’s a chance he’ll go all out to keep the lead from Buffering.

The new contender up front now is Love Conquers All which wasn’t touted as a potential leader early on but it’s a plan that’s worked well in the past.

What all this means is that the back markers can take advantage late, something that plays right into the hands of Black Piranha.

 ”Black Piranha is the one that can run a race,” Glenn Munsie said.

‘He is the one that has weight-for-age form … he got beat a nut in this race a couple of years ago.”

In that race it took the legendary Apache Cat to beat him to the line and last year he showed he wasn’t past it either.

Hot Danish won in 2010 and Black Piranha wasn’t too far behind in fourth place.

With the field now robbed of two almost certain winners, it’s created a whole new race and a race which Black Piranha has shown he can win.